Process for utilizing waste heat of distillation.



, "F. SHUMAN. PROCESS FOR UTILIZING WASTE HEAT 0P DISTILLATION.

Patented Jan. 9,

APPLICATION FILED DBO.13. 1907.

- tion of apparatus for utilizing waste heat tion, and vFigs. 2 and 3 are sectional views.

of condensers differing in construction from I mi TED spar-Es PATENToF-FICE;

FRANK .snumn'n, or rnrtnnnnrnin, rENnsYLvAnIA;

rnocnss non u'rmzrne mm HEAT or DISTILLATION.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK 'SHUMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,

Improvements in Processes for Utilizing Waste Heat of Distillation, of which the 91:

lowing is a specification.

The object of my invention is to utilize, for the performance offuseful work, heat which is now wasted in .the operation of stills ofvarious kinds. This object I attain in the manner hereinafter set forth, reference-bei'ng had to the accompanying drawing, whichc Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representaof distillation in accordance with my inventhat shown in Fig, 1, but which maybe used in carrying out my invention.

In the operation'ofoil and other stills it is customary to convey thevapor through passed through heated water to' vaporize as shown at 7.

Y also at, a relatively low temperature.

a condenser through hich water is also caused to flow in a reverse direction, valthough the vapormay at times reach a temperature as high as 600 issues from the still, the water must, be

quantities in orderto insure the reduction of the distillate'to the desired low temperature that the temperature of the Water (ascaping from the top of the condenser is y the exercise of my invention, however, amenabled to efiect the desired reduction the'sanie tine am enabled to raise the temperature of a portion ofthe water used as acooling agent to such a degree that its heat is available for the performance of useful work, preferably by causing such a power-developing agent having a lower boiling point than the water. In Fig.1 of the still of any ordinary character, having a vertical column 2, from theupper endof which vapor escapes through a pipe 3, this pipe beingfirst ooiled, as shown at 1, in a condensing vessel 5, and then passing into a condensing vessel 6, in which it is coiled,

Water enters the lower portion oiithe condenser 6 through a pipe 9, and aportion of this water, after being heated by contact Specification of Letters Patent.

have invented and, I

F. when itthe condenser in such large drawing, 1 represents a' with the coil 7, escapes-from the condenser 6 through a pipe 10 and entersthe'lower portion of'the condenser 5, in which it flllll'tllel' heated by contact-with the coil: '4. t e

the condenser 5 through a pipe 11, which,

heated water then escaping from terminates in a-' coil 12 in a generator '13 containing apowerydeveloping agent (such as ether, sulfurous acid, carbonic acid, etc.,) of such charactenthat vapor under pressure can be producedtherefrom by the application as is possessed by the water in the coil 12, this vapor under pressure being employed to operate a suitable engine 14, and the exhaustvapor being conducted through a coil 15 in a condenser 16 having water-supply and overflow pipes 17 and 19, respectively, the condensed vapor being then-returned by means of a pump 20 to the "generator to be again vaporized. Instead of passing through a generator coil such as'shown, the heated water may be passed through the tubes of a tubular boiler or equivalent device, containing the liquid to be vaporized, the vapor under pressure being used for running any desired form of engine.

The volume of water supplied to the con-- denser 6 by the pipe 9 is considerably in excess of the'volume flowing from the condenser 6 into the condenser 5, this excess escaping from the condenser 6 through a pipe 21, and either running to waste or, if its temperature is high 'enough, being employed 1' in the same manner as the water escaping from the condenser '5 to vaporize a powerdeveloping agent having a lower boiling point, which agent may be contained in a vessel separate from the generator 13, or the water from the pipe 21 may be conveyed to the lower portion of said generator- 13, where the temperature of the power-developing agent is less than that of the water.

It is contemplated to raise the temperature of the waterinthe condenser 5 to 'a Patented Jan. 9, 1912. Application filed December 13, 1907. Serial No. 406,397. g

thereto of .such a degree of heatdegree approaching the boiling point, but

the temperatureof the water escaping from the condenser 6 will, of course, be considerably less, and the amount of condensing water flowing be increased to any desired extent in respect to the amount entering the condenser 5, in order to provide for the desired re-- duction III the temperature of the distillate escaping from the coil 7, this increased flow of condensing water being 'preferable to a through the. condenser (7- can the production of power or the performance in the first stage for corresponding increase in the size of the condenser 5, in order that the latter may not exceedreasonable limits. By reason of my invention, therefore, all, or the greater portion, of the heat contained in the vapor escaping from the still, instead of being wasted, as usual, is effectively utilized for of other useful work.

In that form ofapparatus shown in Fig. 2, both of the condensers 5 and 6 are contained in the same casing, which is, however, divided into two chambers by means of a partition 22 extending part way across the casing, the chambers communicating with each other through a contracted passage 23 which constitutes the equivalent of the pipe 10 of the apparatus shown in Fig. -1.

In the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 both of the condensers 5 and 6 are contained in the same casing, and that portion of the casing containing the condenser 5 is expanded horizontally beyond the limits of the portion containing the condenser 6 in order that an extended surface area may be presented in said condenser 5 without 11ndue increase in the height of the same.

Another modification of my invention is one in which each condenser has an independent supply of water or other condensing agent, the volume or'rate of flow or both the volume and the rate of flow of the agent in the condenser 5 being less than in the condenser 6, whereby said .a cut will, in the condenser 5, acquire the desired high temperature, while the flow of the distillate through the condenser 6 will reduce it to the desired low temperature.

It will be understood that the variou pipes are to be provided with suitable valves, and theother members of the apparatus'will be supplied with pressure gages and other equipments usual in such apparatus, and further that no attempt has been made, in thedrawing, to show the relativesize and location of the difierent parts of the apparatus. Iclaim:- 1 The mode herein described of utilizing waste heat of distillation, said mode consisting 1n subjecting the vapor from the still to a two-stage condensation, and. utilizin the heat of the condensing agent employe the performance of useful work. 7

2. The mode herein described of utilizing waste heat of distillation, said mode consisting in subjecting the vapor issuing from the still to a two-stage condensation, the volume of condensing agent used in the first stage being less than that used in the second stage,- and utilizin heat of the condensing agent for the per ormance of useful work.

3. The mode herein described of utilizing waste heat of distillation, said mode conthe still to a'two-stage condensation, the

condensing agent to vaporize a sisting in subjecting the vapor issuing from the still to a two-stage condensation, the volumeof condensing agent used in the first stagebeing less than that used in the second stage, and utilizing heat of the condensing agent used in the first stage for the performance of useful work.

4. The mode herein described of utilizing wasteheat of distillation, said mode consisting in subjecting the vapor issuing from volume of condensing agent used in the first stage being less than that used in the second stage, and causing heat acquired by the condensing agent to vaporize a power-developing agent having a lower boiling point.

5. The mode herein described of utilizing waste heat of distillation, said mode consisting in subjecting the vapor issuing from the still to a two-stage condensation, the volume of condensing agent used in the first stage being less than that used in the second stage, and causing heat acquired by the condensing agent used in the first stage to vaporize a power-developing agent having a lower boiling point. i

6. The mode herein described of utilizing waste heat of distillation, said mode consisting in subjecting the vapor issuing from the still to a two-stage condensation main- 95, taining a quicker flow. of the condensing agent during the second stage than during the first, and utilizing heat of the condensing agent for the performance of useful Work. 7. The mode herein described of utilizing waste heat of distillation, said mode consisting in subjecting the vapor issuing from the still to a two-stage condensation, mamtaining a quicker flow of the condensing agentfduring the second stage than during the'first,jand utilizing heat of the condensing agent used in the first stage for the performance of. useful work. 8. The mode herein described of utilizing waste heat of distillation, said mode consisting in subjecting the vapor issuing from the still to a two-stage condensation, mamtain'ing a quicker flow of the condensing agent during the second stage than during the first, and causing heat acquired by the owerdeveloping agent having a lower boiling po nt. 9. The mode herein described of utillzing wasteheat of-distillation, said mode consisting in subjecting the vapor issuing from the still to a two-stage condensation, ma1ntaining a quicker flow of the condensing, agent during the second stage than during the first, and causing heat acquired by the condensing agent used-, in the first stage to vaporize a power-developing agent having a lower boilingpoint.

10. The mode herein described of utilizing waste heat of distillation, said mode from the still to a two-stage condensation,

using a portion of the condensing agent in both stages, maintaining a How of such condensing agent in the second stage inexcess of that maintained in the first sta e, and utilizing for the performance of use ul work heat of the condensing agent which is used in both stages.

11. The mode herein described of utiliz ing waste heat of distillation, said mode consisting in subjecting the vapor issuing from the still to a two-stage condensation, using a portion of the condensing agent in both stages, maintaining a flow of such condensing agent in the second stage in excess of that maintained in the first stage, and utilizing for the performance of useful work heat of the condensing agent which is used in both stages, as well as heat of the condensing agent which is used only in the second stage.

12. The mode herein described of utilizing waste heat of distillation, said mode consisting in subjecting the vapor issuing from the still to a two-stage condensation, using a portion of the condensing agent in both stages, maintaining a flow of such condensing agent in the second stage in excess of that maintained in the first stage, and utilizing heat of the condensing agent which is used in both stages of the condenpower-developing agent-having a lower boilmg point.

13. The mode herein described of utilizing waste heat of distillation,'said mode consisting in subjecting the vapor issuing from the still to a two-stage condensation, using a portion of the condensin agent in both stages, maintaining a-flow .0 such condensing agent in the second stage in excess of that maintained in the first stage, and utilizing the heat of the. condensing agent which is used in both stages of the condensation, as well as the heat of that portion which is used only in the second stage, for the purpose ofvaporizing a power-developing agent having a lower boiling point.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my sation for the purpose of vaporizing a name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

3 7 FRANK SHUMAN.

Witnesses:

W; C. BURKHOLDER,

A. G. WoRRALL. 

